Chapter 209 Sleeping Together
Hearing the child call out like that, Olivia's face filled with surprise.
Even Andrew looked a bit taken aback.
Olivia quickly picked up Bianca and asked gently while comforting her, "Bianca, were you having a dream? Don't call people randomly, this is Andrew..."
As she said this, she felt a bit embarrassed and awkward.
Andrew wasn't even married yet, and suddenly being called daddy, he must be completely confused.
She quickly turned to apologize to Andrew, "Sorry about that, Mr. Hamilton. Bianca is talking in her sleep, please don't mind it."
Andrew didn't seem to care about it though.
He focused his gaze on Bianca. Olivia was now wiping away her tears, holding and gently soothing her.
Bianca pouted, looking wronged and pitiful, but her eyes were fixed tightly on him, "Daddy, hug..."
The sweet little voice carried expectation and longing, poking right at the softest spot in one's heart.
Andrew frowned, vaguely sensing something was off.
In the past, no matter how withdrawn Bianca's condition was, no matter how bad her emotions were, she had never called someone the wrong name.
What was going on this time?
Out of professional instinct, he didn't leave the child hanging. Instead, he bent down to pick her up and said to Olivia, "Let me take a look at her."
Olivia heard the seriousness in his tone and also sensed something was wrong. She quickly let go and handed the child to him.
Once Bianca was in Andrew's arms, her sobbing gradually stopped. Her little hands obediently clutched his clothes, and she pressed her head against his shoulder.
Andrew held her and soothed her gently for a while, and the little girl finally stopped crying.
But he wasn't in a hurry to counsel her. Instead, as usual, he asked softly, "Bianca, are you thirsty? Do you want some water? Are you hungry? Would you like some snacks?"
She hadn't eaten much at lunch.
Bianca clung to him, nodding her little head, responding to each question, but her little hands gripped his suit tightly, wrinkling that section of fabric.
Olivia watched from the side, feeling a bit anxious, but had to be patient and personally went to the kitchen to prepare Bianca's favorite foods.
Like this, Andrew stayed with the child for over an hour.
When Bianca's emotions seemed to have stabilized a bit, he took her to the art room.
Bianca still wouldn't let go of his fingers.
Andrew showed unusually good patience, going along with everything Bianca wanted, carefully chatting with her.
When Bianca and Olivia weren't aware, he casually guided Bianca's state.
Around four in the afternoon, Bianca gradually returned to her original self, looking like she had stabilized.
Andrew watched her focus on painting and stood up.
Bianca noticed immediately. She dropped her paintbrush and became anxious, "Where is daddy going..."
She also stood up, as if wanting to follow "daddy."
Andrew bent down to pat her head and said, "I'm going to get some water. Bianca, don't worry, I'll be back soon to keep you company."
Bianca was very uneasy, but seemed to think that being so clingy was immature, so she restrained herself and sat back down.
She looked at Andrew obediently and said, "Then I'll wait for you, daddy!"
Andrew smiled and agreed, "Okay..."
He picked up the fallen paintbrush and handed it back to her, then walked out himself.
Bianca stared at his back for a while. She seemed to believe that "daddy" would come back, that he wouldn't lie to her, and only then did she look away.
Olivia had been anxious outside for ages. When she saw Andrew come out, she hurried over and asked worriedly, "Mr. Hamilton, what... what's going on?"
Andrew didn't answer directly but gestured for her to go to the balcony.
Olivia had no choice but to follow him there.
As soon as they got there, she couldn't wait to ask, "What's really going on with Bianca?"
Andrew didn't beat around the bush, "Based on initial assessment, what happened this morning triggered her and brought out her avoidance emotions. It's similar to her previous self-isolation, so she's experiencing emotional transfer!
This situation actually fits her condition. She's already in the healing process, and when this kind of unavoidable incident suddenly happens, this reaction is normal."
Olivia felt surprised and very heartbroken.
So her daughter had given up hope on her biological father and transferred her emotions to Andrew?
Was it because Andrew was good to her?
A sad feeling spread through her heart, accompanied by a sense of helplessness that made it hard to breathe.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and asked Andrew, "How long will this state last? Will she recover quickly?"
Andrew shook his head and told the truth, "Not sure. Right now, she doesn't think she's mistaken anyone.
Her psychological suggestion to herself is that I am her father.
However, this can be guided. She might recover quickly, or it might take some time."
Seeing Olivia's distressed expression, he comforted her, "Don't worry too much, I'll help her."
How could Olivia really feel at ease?
But for now, they could only rely on Andrew to continue the treatment.
Olivia said to him sincerely, "Then I'm counting on you, Mr. Hamilton!"
She didn't want the child to keep calling Andrew "daddy."
Not because she minded, but because she felt they shouldn't take advantage of Andrew like this.
He was a person of high status, kindly treating Bianca, but ended up being called daddy for no reason.
In Olivia's heart, she always felt really embarrassed about it.
The more Olivia thought about it, the worse she felt. She could only say to Andrew, "Before Bianca gets better, she'll probably keep calling you that, Mr. Hamilton. I hope you won't take it to heart."
Andrew raised an eyebrow and looked at her for a few seconds, sensing the awkwardness in her words.
He chuckled and said, "What's there to fuss about with a sick little girl?
Speaking of which, my medical skills aren't good enough - I actually let her develop this condition. I bear some responsibility too, so no matter what, I have to cure her. How could I blame you?"
Olivia strongly disagreed with this. "This isn't your fault!"
If anyone was to blame, it was Michael. He was irresponsible toward Bianca and liked to parade around with Sophia.
Just thinking about that man filled Olivia with coldness.
If Michael had even a bit of conscience left, she hoped that next time they met, he could take a detour. Stop running into them every time - it was really too annoying.
Every time, all he did was hurt Bianca. He had no other skills!
The two chatted on the balcony while Bianca in the art room finally couldn't sit still and anxiously ran out.
Seeing the two people on the balcony, Bianca's eyes immediately lit up, and that anxious feeling dissipated.
She ran over to the balcony, squeezed her little head through the glass door, and asked, "Daddy, Mommy, are you done talking?"
When Andrew saw the child appear, he showed no displeasure at her form of address.
Instead, he calmly answered her question, saying, "We're done."
Then he walked toward Bianca and asked her, "Why did you come out? Didn't I tell you to wait for me in the art room?"
Bianca explained in her sweet childlike voice, "Daddy, you were out too long."
She came over and hugged Andrew's long legs, acting cute, "Daddy, will you paint with me?"
Her soft and adorable manner made people's hearts melt.
Andrew also indulgently agreed, "Sure, Bianca, what do you want to paint?"
Bianca pulled his hand and said, "I want to paint sunflowers, the one on the wall."
The one Olivia had bought today.
"Okay." Andrew agreed without hesitation.
Olivia stood there, watching the two interact naturally, her ears turning red uncontrollably.
Although she knew Andrew was being kind, their natural interaction just now made her have a momentary illusion.
As if those two really were father and daughter.
Olivia bumped her head against the balcony glass door, thinking she must be crazy with worry to have such ridiculous thoughts.
And this seemed a bit disrespectful to Andrew.
She quickly bumped a few more times, trying to drive these messy thoughts out of her head.
The last time, she didn't control the force well, and there was a loud 'thud.'
Yara in the living room watched, quite alarmed.
She had seen what happened earlier and knew about Bianca's condition. She thought Olivia was traumatized.
She quickly came over to stop her, saying, "Ms. Smith, please don't do anything rash! Although Bianca's condition has gotten worse again, with Mr. Hamilton here, she'll definitely get better. You have to be okay!
Hurting yourself is the worst thing you can do."
As she spoke, very worried, she quickly pulled Olivia into the living room, afraid she might do it a few more times if she couldn't think straight.
What if she knocked herself silly? What would they do then?
They couldn't have Andrew take her back for treatment too, could they?
Andrew was a psychologist, but he probably couldn't treat that...
Yara was a bit worried.
Olivia found this misunderstanding both funny and exasperating. She quickly explained, "Yara, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something and spacing out."
"I know, you're not thinking of doing anything rash..." Yara stared at the red spot on her forehead where she'd bumped it, not believing her words. She got the medicine kit and helped her apply medicine.
Then she kept watching Olivia, as if this way she could stop her at any time from doing something foolish.
Finally, Olivia had no choice but to go keep Bianca and Andrew company while they painted.
The afternoon time passed in a flash.
In the evening, Yara made them a lavish dinner.
Andrew had intended to leave after eating, but Bianca wouldn't let him. After dinner, she pulled him to build blocks together.
Olivia was starting to worry that Andrew's patience would be worn out like this.
But it wasn't.
The man was as gentle and easy-going as always, full of patience with Bianca.
At 8:30 in the evening, Olivia really felt bad about taking up more of his time, so she came over and said to Bianca, "Bianca, it's getting late. Let me take you to take a bath, okay?"
Normally, Bianca would happily go with Olivia.
But tonight, she seemed to sense something and asked sensitively while clutching Andrew's clothes, "Then... what about daddy?"
Olivia was stumped by this question.
She hadn't expected her to be so clingy.
She tried to reason with the child, "Andrew... I mean, daddy has been with you all day. He might have some work to do tonight, so he'll probably need to go out later."
"Really?" Bianca looked at Olivia with watery eyes, then at Andrew.
Andrew didn't deny it either.
Little Bianca became anxious, her sweet voice a bit mournful, "But... I want to sleep with daddy and mommy tonight."